Dads and Baby

So how is Dad really coping with this baby thing?

- Blokes 'feeling' pregnant - oh Man !

It can be very simple and easy for a bloke to get almost jealous of your partner and the baby. All the attention she is getting, her phone calls, her excited screaming friends, people you didn't even know she knew writing cards, emails etc etc etc.....the list of things go on and on.

It's easy for a bloke to feel he is the spare part to all this pregnancy and baby stuff. Well don't worry as these feelings are normal and most people go through this and in fact there is a train of thought that says this is natural.

Have you ever heard of Couvade ?

It comes from the French word to Brood and they are symptoms that can make you somehow copy the feelings and the behaviour that your partner is going through, its called sympathetic pregnancy !

Things like, labour pains, cravings, depression, indigestion, changes in appetite, weight gain, headache and somnia believe it not !! There are various sources throughout the ages that reference this and has records, even Marco Polo.

Obviously you don't suddenly gain a baby in your stomach, but apparently the big thing that happens is your testosterone level in your body decreases.

This apparently happens even more when baby is born and makes you gain a bit of weight, you feel a little less like doing sport and a bit lethargic. The 'natural explanation to this is that it keeps you at home and near to mum.

It is very common symptom that women get the idea that being pregnant is all about them. So even though she has had a close relationship with her partner, the main number one priority is now to ensure baby has everything he or see needs and wants . Ok so is this selfish or nature taking over?

New mum to be is going to need help at home and it is not a time to forget your partner.
Becoming pregnant is not about ignoring each other and any roles you may or may not have been doing, it's a time to get closer and grow together, increasing respect.

The reality of is that going forward there are not going to be many times where you will be able to just sit down together, relax, watch a film together and open a box of chocolates. That is, without toys, games, softy fluffy things and noisy toy guitars going off at full volume behind the sofa ! But when they do, this time should be precious.

So in summary, don't fall into the trap of becoming envious and resentful during this time, get more involved with baby and mum as well as making time for mum and dad to have time for heart to hearts.




The writer is the husband of the owner of 4little1s.com, especially commissioned to write a small piece about Dad and Baby.

4little1s.com is an online nursery retailer located at www.4little1s.com